Key Takeaways
- The crackdown on undocumented immigration in the US has led to an increase in remittances sent back to Honduras, with a 26% rise in remittances between January and October this year compared to the same period the previous year.
- Many Hondurans living in the US are sending more money back home due to fear of deportation and detention, with some increasing their remittances from $500 a month to $300 a week.
- The price of people smuggling has doubled, from $12,000-13,000 per person to $25,000-30,000, making it harder for people to afford to make the journey.
- Despite the challenges, some migrants are still finding ways to cross the border, with around 40% of those who attempt to cross being successful.
- The economic outlook in Honduras remains bleak, with many people seeing migration to the US as their only option for a better life.
Introduction to the Crisis
The recent crackdown on undocumented immigration in the US has had a significant impact on the lives of many people in Central America, particularly in Honduras. For over a year, Elías Padilla had been planning to make the journey from Honduras to the US as an undocumented immigrant, but the images of ICE agents dragging away undocumented immigrants in major US cities have deterred him from traveling north. As an Uber driver in the capital, Tegucigalpa, Elías earns very little, and the prospect of earning more in the US was a major draw. However, with the current climate, he has put his plans on hold, citing the fear of detention and deportation.
The Impact on Remittances
The policies of President Donald Trump have had an unexpected windfall for the Honduran economy, with thousands of Hondurans living in the US sending home more remittances than ever. Between January and October this year, there was a 26% rise in remittances to Honduras compared to the same period the previous year. This is largely due to the fact that many undocumented Hondurans are trying to send every spare dollar back to their families before it is too late. Marcos, a Honduran living in a major US city, has increased the amount he sends to his wife and two children in Tegucigalpa from $500 a month to $300 a week. He is trying to prepare for the eventuality of his arrest, knowing his family will not be able to rely on him being able to provide if he is in a detention center for two months.
The People Smuggling Industry
The illegal economy, via people-smuggling, has also been impacted by President Trump’s policies. Jimmy, a former coyote or people smuggler, claims that the price of smuggling people across Mexico has doubled, from $12,000-13,000 per person to $25,000-30,000. This is largely due to the fact that the cartels in Mexico, who primarily control the route taking migrants from Central America to the US, are increasing their prices. Fewer people are leaving because "not everyone can pay" the elevated costs of the people smuggler, Jimmy adds. Despite this, he insists that people are still getting through, with around 40% of those who attempt to cross being successful.
The Human Cost
The crackdown on undocumented immigration has had a significant human cost, with many people living in fear of deportation and detention. Elías Padilla, the Uber driver, is just one example of someone who has had to put his plans on hold due to the current climate. Having worked hard and sold personal items to get the funds together, Elías simply cannot afford to risk being deported soon after arriving in the US. He knows his chances of successfully settling in the United States have diminished under Donald Trump, but he says he has little choice but to wait – for either the current wave of ICE raids or the entire Trump presidency to pass.
The Future of Migration
Central American migrants have seen all manner of hardline policies against them over the years, and Elías thinks there is little that can hold people back for long. Not even the current crackdown. With the economic outlook in Honduras still bleak, many people see migration to the US as their only option for a better life. Elías insists that Trump has only postponed his plans, not cancelled them. As the situation continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how the US government will address the issue of undocumented immigration, and what impact it will have on the lives of people like Elías and Marcos. One thing is certain, however: the desire for a better life will continue to drive people to make the journey north, no matter the challenges they may face.